Mahua Moitra moves Delhi High Court challenging government order to evict her from MP's bungalow

Trinamool Congress (TMC) party leader Mahua Moitra moved the Delhi High Court on Monday challenging the Government of India order to evict her from government allotted bungalow in the wake of her recent expulsion from the Lok Sabha. .In her writ petition, Moitra highlighted that the legality of her expulsion as a Member of Parliament (MP) is presently pending adjudication before the Supreme Court of India. .Hence, she has challenged the validity of a December 11 order issued by the Directorate of Estates of the Government of India to cancel her government accommodation and seeking her eviction from the official residence with effect from January 7, 2024..In the alternative, Moitra has urged the Court to issue directions that would allow her to continue to reside at her current residence till the results of the 2024 general elections are declared."In the event that the Petitioner is so allowed, she will readily undertake to pay any charges that may be applicable for the extended period of stay," Moitra submitted..The matter will be heard by Justice Subramonium Prasad on Tuesday. .On December 8, the Lok Sabha passed a resolution to expel Moitra from the parliament in the wake of a recommendation by an Ethics Committee for her disqualification as an MP.The Ethics Committee's recommendation and report followed a complaint by Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) MP Nishikant Dubey who alleged that Moitra had accepted cash in exchange for asking certain questions in parliament.Moitra has been accused of posing several queries in parliament concerning the Adani group of companies at the behest of a rival businessman, Darshan Hiranandani. Moitra was also alleged to have shared her Lok Sabha log-in credentials with Hiranandani.The TMC leader was found guilty by the Ethics Committee which held that Moitra's lapses called for "severe punishment."In view of these findings, Moitra was expelled from parliament which she then challenged before the Supreme Court. .Moitra has told the High Court that the subsequent eviction proceedings initiated against her are premature since the validity of her expulsion from the Lok Sabha is slated to be considered by the Supreme Court after the winter vacations, on January 3, 2024..Moitra also apprised the Court about the fact that she has challenged her expulsion from Lok Sabha before the Supreme Court..Moitra added that even if she has been expelled, she is not disqualified from running again for an elected office. While so, her eviction from government accommodation would affect her ability to carry out activities she would be required to do in the run up to the next general elections, Moitra submitted. "Instability in accommodation, however, would pose a significant impediment to the Petitioner’s ability to host and engage with party members, parliamentarians, fellow politicians, visiting constituents, key stakeholders and other dignitaries, which is essential, especially in the lead up to a general election. In addition, the Petitioner is a woman living alone in New Delhi. She has no place of residence or alternative accommodation in Delhi. Therefore, if evicted from her government accommodation, she will have to fulfil the duties of campaigning while also finding, and then shifting to, a new residence all by herself. This will place an onerous burden on the Petitioner," her petition stated. .The petition was filed through advocates Hrishika Jain, Natasha Maheshwari, and Aman Naqvi.